Gummed tape moistening device



Oct. 31, 1939. I E, KRAKAUR 2,177,727

GUMMED TAPE MOISTENING DEVICE Filed Nov. 20, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheetl INVENTOR.

#44 ATTORNEY.

Oct. 31, 1939. E. K. KRAKAUR GUMMED TAPE MOISTENING DEVICE Filed Nov. 20, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. E. MW

4H4 ATTORNEY.

Oct. 31, 1939. E K KRAKAUR 2.171727 GUMMED TAPE MOISTENING DEVICE Filed Nov. 20, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR.

1% s ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 16 Claims.

My invention relates to the class of gumming devices that moisten gummed tape preparatory to the affixing of the tape aforesaid upon packages, boxes or the like.

6 The object of this invention is to provide a device that is simple and convenient, requiring little maintenance and which will readily convey moisture upon the gummed surface of a paper tape or the like.

A further object of the invention is in the manner the aforesaid tape is fed through a tape chute or guide. The floor of said tape chute is made up of a series of individual circularly rtating members in staggered relation with each other.

The chute flooring asdescribed reduces friction of the movement of the tape preparatory to being moistened and drawn out of the device; and, in addition thereto; said individual circularly rotating members tend to break up the smooth surface of the adhesive element that had been affixed on oneside of the aforesaid tape. The aforesaid action also tends to cause'the adhesive to be more readily dissolved when moisture is applied to the tape by the moistening means attached to the device.

A further object of this invention is to provide a tape chute, the floor of which being a modification of the flooring just described, and instead consists of a series of individual rollers mounted in staggered positions. Each of said rollers having a neck, and the periphery of each of said rollers are contiguous to adjacent respective collars and are mounted upon parallel shafts which make up the flooring of the aforesaid chute.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings in Whichiii? Fig. 1 is a side sectional view of the device proper.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View of the device on a line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top or plan view of the tape chute proper showing the roller balls and their associated idler beads.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of a roller ball assembly on a'line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 shows a modification of a roller ball having sharp ribs or projections affixed thereon.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to- Fig. i, showing a modified design of said device particularly showing a glass water container and a modified means for moistening the tape.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the deice as shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a detail of the tape chute arrangement showing the roller balls and separator beads or collars. Said view also includes serrated edge means for cutting the paper tape. i

Fig. 9 is a further modification detail of the 5 roller ball arrangement on a line, 9-9 of Fig. 9 showing a modified method of mounting the roller ball shafts.

Fig. ll) is a side elevation of said device being a modification of the device shown in Fig. 6. 9

Fig. 11 is a detail view showing the manner of mounting the parallel roller supporting shafts.

Fig. 12 is a section on a line l2--l2' of Fig. 10. Fig. 13 is a cross-section detail of the. tape chute showing the manner of sliding said chute 15 into the position shown in Fig. 14.

Fig. 14 is a plan view of said tape chute as shown in Fig. 13 taken on a lineM-I4 of Fig. 12. Said View also shows the serrating edge for tearing the paper tape. I

Referring to Fig. 1, the numeral I designates a housing which may consist of a casting or castings, or said housing may be die formed. The housing consists of two sections, A and B. Section A is a box like closure containing a fluid chamber ll.

In section B of said housing I, a roll of tape 3 is mounted in a manner to enable the tape 4 to feed through the space between the lip E of the tape roll cover 5 and the extension member 9 The cover 5 hinges by means of the hinge 14. At the opposite side of said cover there is provided a tongue I which serves as a convenient means for lifting up and closing down said cover. The cover 5 has reamed edges 5 The reaming aforesaid at the position designated as 5 isprovided with circular depressions 5 which serve to hold the cover 5 securely when said depressions are forced over the protruding members S of the housing I. The cover 5 is further provided with an overlapping extension 5 which assists in holding the tape roll 3 in position.

Corrugated rubber cushions 22 aresecured at the base of the housing I to enable said device to rest substantially upon a level surface on which said device is placed. I

A rotating member supporting floor 91 is mounted over section A of said device, said floor having a tongue extension S The extension aforesaid is secured to section A by means of a thumb screw I2. A further lip extension 9 (Fig. 1) of the rotating member supporting floor 9 is inserted into an opening S of the housing I.

The rotating member supporting floor 9 is provided with extensions I 5, said extensions having holes or apertures I6.

A number of cotter pins [1 are inserted into and are supported from said holes or apertures I6.

Prior to the mounting of the aforesaid cotter pins I1, the rotating members 9 and the collar shaped members 9 are strung on said cotter pins and the latter are mounted in the manner shown in Fig. 3.

A paper guiding member I9 is secured in position immediately over the rotating members by means of the ears 29 which are inserted through an opening provided in the fiooring 9 and said ears are then bent over in the manner shown in Fig. 3.

The paper guiding member It has an edge It which is provided with serrated teeth to facilitate the tearing of the paper tape. A slotted opening I8 is included in the flooring 9 said opening permitting the moistening element Ill to protrude. Said moistening element may be a hair brush or suitable absorbent felt which contacts with the gummed section of said paper tape. The lower end of said moistening element projectsI into the fluid contained in the fluid chamber I.

The fiuid in the reservoir or chamber II is drawn up into the moistening element It by means of capillary attraction in the usual manner of tape moisteners.

The edge portion I8 of the slot fil is adjusted so as to extend a short distance away from the serrated edge of the guiding member I9. In this manner the moisture contained in the moistening element Ifl will not contact with the edge of the paper tape after the free end of said tape had been torn and separated from the device. The adjustment aforesaid avoids the liability of wetting the paper tape directly behind said serrated edging of the guide I9.

It will readily be seen that the aforesaid adjustment is important. Should the wetting of said tape occur in the manner explained, there would be a tendency of said device to clog, especially if said device is permitted to remain inoperative for a certain extended period.

The paper guiding member I9 has an oval shaped opening I9 said opening enabling the operator to insert his finger or fingers upon the paper tape and pressing against said circularly rotating means underneath said tape, and at the same time pushing said tape forward and out of said device. The pushing of said tape in the manner described is effected within the limit provided by said oval opening.

An upward extending partition I3 tends to hold the moistening element it] in upright position and with sufficient rigidity to perform the function of moistening that section of the paper tape 4 that is being passed over the moistening element aforesaid.

Referring to Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 which illustrate a modification of the moistening device just previously described. The modification aforesaid has essentially similar operative elements with the difference that instead of securing the extension section of the supporting floor 9* on to the device through the medium of the screw I2, said floor is slid over extension sections I2 and [2 of the casting or housing I, the said flooring being bent over to conform to said extension sections I? and 52 The bending of the floor 9' aforesaid is indicated by the designations I2 (see Fig. 9).

A projecting lip 2| is provided to facilitate the pouring of fluid into the reservoir II.

Referring to Fig. 5 which illustrates a modification of the circularly rotating member 9. In this figure ribbed or extended projections 23 are shown. The projections aforesaid tend to cause dentures or breaks in the smooth surfacing of the gum element that is spread on the underside of said paper tape when said paper tape is being pressed over the oval shaped opening IQ Referring to Figs. 10, ll, 12, 13 and 14. The device as shown in the aforesaid figures illustrate a further modification of the device illustrated in Fig. 1. Said modified device includes a circularly rotating member supporting frame 24, said frame having on either side thereof rounded extensions 26 and 21 which slide over the extended sections of the casting of section A in a like manner shown in Fig. 9.

The framing 2G is provided with upwardly bent members 24 each of said members having half round slots 8 A paper tape supporting floor 25 is secured by means of rivets or the like 25 to the rotating member supporting frame 24. The tape supporting fioor 25 is provided with downwardly bent members N said members also having -round slots 9. A number of shafts 9 are inserted in the openings provided by the joining together of the members 2 2 and 25. A number of circularly rotating members 9 are strung upon the shafts 9 and rest in the apertures as shown in Fig. 11.

As stated, the shafts 9 rest in apertures between two supporting sections or members 24 and 25 comprising the tape chute 8 cularly rotating members 9 are movably affixed upon the parallel shafts li in general staggered formation. In this manner a roller section of a circularly rotating member 9 will fit in the space of the adjacent neck of one of said rotating members, but providing a workable air gap between said adjacent rotating members.

The arrangement of the rotating members as described permits of smooth travel for the gummed tape as said tape is being pushed and drawn through the tape chute aforesaid.

The paper guiding member 8 or chute is secured immediately over the paper supporting member 25.

A semi-oval shaped opening 25 provides space for the movement of the paper tape in said device made operative by the operator pressing his fingers over said tape and then pushing said tape forward within the limit provided by the opening aforesaid.

The edge portion of the paper supporting member 25 is adjusted so that the serrated edge I8 of the paper guiding member extends over the edge section 23F and also over the edge section 25 The adjustment aforesaid has been found or discovered to be superior for facilitating the pulling of the paper tape forward and out of the device over the moistener element iii.

A glass reservoir Ii having an extended lip 2| and brush supporting partitions Hi is also included in said modified device.

The housing I as shown in Fig. 10 is preferably made up in two castings which are preferably joined together by means of the bolts or by rivets E and F as shown in the figure. This manner of securing said castings together facilitates the assembly of the device aforesaid.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 6, the tape chute in The cirboth of said figures is designated by-the numeral-B.

The operation of the device is as follows: A roll of .gummed tape is inserted in section B of said housing I by lifting the top cover 5. The tape is then fed between thelip 6 and the extension tongue or.member 1 and then through the tape chute 8.

The tape is pulled out of the tape chute by the operator pressing the tape aforesaid with his finger or fingers with a forward pushing motion in the oval space of said chute. The circularly rotating members accelerate the movement of said paper tape through the device and also tend to loosen or indent the aifixed gum element upon the underside of the tape by the rotation of said members Which arepreferably ribbed as shown in Fig. 5.

An important feature of my invention is the utilization of independently rotating members grouped in transverse positions with respect to the movement of the gummed tape over said rotating members. .The friction of said tape While passing through said chute as described is reduced to a minimum by reason of the small circumferential section of surfacesof each of said members that come into contact with said tape.

Furthermore, due to the foregoing feature of my invention, there is small likelihood of any of theindividually rotating members adhering to the gummed tape at such times when moisture inadvertently enters the tape feeding channel or chute. The utilization of individually rotating members as a flooring as described is an advance in the art over that of the employment of ordinary type of rollers which present greater friction of the tape through a chute or channel as compared with the independently rotating members of the applicants invention. This fact is especially true in cases where wide tape is used, andalso, with greater contact surface presented to the tape there is a consequent greater liability of said tape adhering to said rollers in the event said rollers become inadvertently moistened.

The addition of the ribbed extensions. 23 to the rotating members is intended as an aid to the free movement of the tape and to accelerate the moistening process of the gum element on said tape. However, the invention per se, is not dependent upon this feature for its operation.

While the invention has been described in detail with specific examples and modifications, such examples are illustrative and are not given as limitations, since other modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Hence, the invention is to be understood as limited only as indicated in the appended claims, in which the intent is to set forth all the novelty over the prior art.

Now, having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a housing therefor, said housing consisting of two sections,

- one section arranged to house a roll of tape, the second section having a fluid container and IIlOlS- ture means contained therein, guide means for feeding the tape from said tape roll through a tape chute, said tape chute having a top opening, said chute also having a flooring consisting of a plurality of circular contacting members, said members rotating upon a plurality of shafts secured to said tape chute, each of said members having a neck integral thereto, .said circular members disposed upon said shafts in a manner to permit the contacting portion of said members to project into the space area provided by the smaller diameter of said necks with respect to the diameter of said contacting portion of said members whereby said tape may be moved over said flooring preparatory to being moistened by the.

moistener means aforesaid.

2. In a device of the class described, a housing therefor, a tape roll container in said housing, the tape from said tape roll being fed through a tape chute having a top opening, said chute also having a flooring consisting of a plurality of circular contacting members, said members rotating upon a plurality of shafts secured to said tape chute, each of said members having a neck integral thereto, said circular members disposed upon said shafts in a manner to permit the contacting portion of said members to project into the space area provided by the smaller diameter of said neckswith respect to the diameter of said contacting portion of said members whereby said tape may be moved over said flooring of contacting members preparatory to being moistened by moistener means contained in said housing; and tape cutter means situated contiguous to the terminus of the tape chute aforesaid.

3. In a device of the class described, a housing therefor, a tape roll container in said housing, the tape from said tape roll being fedv through a tape chute having a top opening, said chute also having a flooring consisting of a pluralityof circular contacting members, said members rotating on a plurality of shafts mounted upon a movable assembly, each of said members having a neck integral thereto said circular members disposed upon said shafts in a manner to permit the contacting portion of said members to project into the space area provided by the smaller diameter of said necks with respect to the diameter of said contacting portion of said members, said assembly including a tape cutter thereon, and an aperture in said assembly for the reception of a moistener element, said assembly being slidably mounted on said housing, the lower end of said moistener element projecting into a fluid reservoir situated in the housing aforesaid.

4. In a device of the class described, a housingtherefor, a tape roll container in said housing, the tape from said tape roll being fed through a tape chute having a top opening, said chute also having a flooring upon which a series of movable balls intermingled with collar members are mount-ed, said mounting consisting of parallel shafts upon which said movable balls and collar members are strung, a moistener element and a tape cutter situated at the terminus of said tape chute, a fluid container in said housing to receive and moisten said moistener element.

5. In a device of the class described, a housing therefor, a tape roll contained in said housing, the tape from said tape roll being fed through a tape chute having a top opening therein, said chute also having a flooring upon which a series of movable balls intermingled with idler collar members are mounted, said balls having ribbed projections thereon, the mounting of said balls and said collar members consisting of parallel shafts upon which said movable balls and collar members are strung; a moistening element and paper tape cutter situated at the terminus of said chute, a fluid container in said housing to receive and moisten said moistener element.

6. In a tape moistening device of the class described, said device including a housing consisting of two sections, one of said sections housing a roll of tape, a second section having means for moving and meistening said tape, said means including a slidably removable mounted flooring support, said support carrying a group of independently rotating circular members positioned in parallel staggered formation with respect to adjacent rotating members and at right angles to the movement of said paper tape across said rotating members, said members being strung on shafts, said shafts secured to supports, said supports being mounted upon an extension of the paper tape supporting floor; a paper tape guiding means included in said paper supporting floor, an opening above said floor for the purpose of inserting a finger or fingers therein to push said tape forward from said device incident to the moistening and removal of a strip of said tape from the device aforesaid.

'7. In a device of the class described, a housing therefor, a tape roll container in said housing, the tape from said tape roll being fed through a tape chute having a top opening, said chute also having a flooring over which said tape is moved, said flooring consisting of a group of individual and independently rotating circular members, said rotating members strung upon parallel shafts, said shafts secured to supports, said supports mounted upon said chute assembly, said assembly including a tape cutter thereon, said rotating members afiixed upon said shafts in staggered parallel formation with respect to adjacent rotating members that are mounted upon said shafts, and means in said housing for moistening said tape preliminary to the cutting and releasing of sections thereof from the device aforesaid.

8. In a device of the class described, a housing therefor, said housing consisting of two sections, one section arranged to house a roll of paper tape, the second section having a fluid container; guide means for feeding the tape from said roll through a tape chute having a top opening, said chute also having a flooring consisting substantially of a series of roller balls, separator means between said roller balls to cause free movement of said roller balls when said tape is being pushed through said tape chute; and a moistener element projecting into said fluid container, said moistener element applying moisture to the gummed side of said tape after said tape shall have passed through the tape chute aforesaid.

9. In a device of the class described, a housing therefor, a tape roll container in aid housing, the gummed tape from said tape roll being fed through a tape chute having a top opening, said chute also having a flooring consisting of a plurality of individual and independently rotating ball members, each of said members presenting a small fraction of the circumferential area thereof in actual frictional contact with said tape, said independent members mounted upon parallel shafts, said shafts mounted upon a movable assembly,said assembly including a tape cutter thereon, an aperture for the reception of a moistener element, said assembly detachably mounted on said housing, said moistening element projecting through said aperture, and the lower end of said moistener element projecting into a fluid reservoir situated in the housing aforesaid,

10. Ihe structure as set forth in claim 9, said detachably mounted assembly having a projecting guide member, said member projecting outwardly with respect to the travel of said tape out of said device, said guide member including means for preventing said moistener from contacting with the cutting edge of the tape cutter aforesaid.

11. In a device of the class described, a housing therefor, said housing consisting of two sections, one section arranged to house a roll of tape, the second section having a fluid container and moistening means contained therein, guide means for feeding the tape from said tape roll through a tape chute, said tape chute having a top opening, said chute also having a flooring consisting of a plurality of circular contacting members, said members being rotatably supported upon said tape chute, each of said members having a neck integral therewith, said circular members being disposed in a manner to permit the contacting portion of said members to project into the space area provided by the smaller diameter of said necks with respect to the diameter of said contacting portion of said members whereby said tape may be moved over said flooring preparatory to being moistened by the moistening means aforesaid.

12. In a device of the class described, a housing therefor containing means to moisten the tape, a tape roll container in said housing, the tape from said tape roll being fed through a tape chute having a top opening, said chute also having a flooring consisting of a plurality of circular contacting members, said members being rotatably supported upon said tape chute, each of said members having a neck integral therewith, said circular members being disposed in a manner to permit the contacting portion of said members to project into the space area provided by the smaller diameter of said necks with respect to the diameter of said contacting portion of said members whereby said tape may be moved over said flooring of contacting members preparatory to being moistened by said moistening means, and tape cutter means situated contiguous to the terminus of the tape chute aforesaid.

13. A device for dispensing and moistening ummed tape, comprising means for holding a supply of said tape, a tape chute through which the tape from said supply is passed with the gummed side of the tape down, said tape chute having inlet and discharge ends and a top opening intermediate its inlet and discharge ends to enable the fingers of the user to be pressed on the upper ungummed side of the tape for advancing the tape through the chute, said tape chute having a fioor portion comprising a plurality of parallel rows of rotatable discs, each of said rows comprising a plurality of said discs mounted on a shaft, said shafts being disposed substantially at right angles to the direction of movement of the tape through the chute, means on the tape chute for supporting the ends of said shafts, the discs of each row being rotatable by movement of the tape and independently of the discs of adjacent rows, the discs in adjacent rows being staggered and in overlapping relation with each ther to form a substantially continuous support for the tape as it passes the top opening of the chute, said discs each having a small surface area only contacting with the gummed side of the tape to prevent sticking of the tape thereto notwithstanding the pressure. exerted on the tape by the fingers of the user during the tape advancing operations, means at the discharge end of said tape chute formoistening the gummed side of the tape, and means having a cutting edge for 25 tearing off the moistened tape after a desired length thereof has issued from the device.

7 14. A device for dispensing and moistening gummed tape, comprising a supporting framework having means for holding a supply of said tape, a tape chute through which the tape from said supply is passed with the gumed side of the tape down, said tape chute having inlet and discharge ends and an apertured portion intermediate its inlet and discharge ends to enable the' substantially at right angles to, the direction of movement of the tape through the chute, means on the tape chute for supporting the ends of said shafts, the discs of each row being rotatable by movement of the tape and independently of the discs of adjacent rows, the discs in adjacent rows being staggered and in overlapping relation with each other to form a substantially continuous support for the tape as it passes the aperturedportion of the chute, said discs each having a small surface area only contacting with the gummed side of the tape to prevent sticking of the tape thereto notwithstanding the pressure exerted on the tape by the fingers of the user during the tape advancing operations, means at the discharge end of said tape chute for moisteni ng the gummed side of the tape, and means having a cutting edge for tearing off the moistened tape after a desired length thereof has issued from the device, said tape chute including its top' plate and rows of rotatable discs comprising a unitary assembly readily removable from said supporting framework for cleaning or replacement purposes, and means including resilient clips for detachably securing said tape chute assembly to said supporting framework.

15. In a device of the class described, a housing therefor, said housing comprising two sections, one section arranged to house a roll of tape; the second section having a fluid container and moistening means contained therein, guide means for feeding the tape from said tape roll through a tape chute, said tape chute having a top opening to enable the fingers of the user to be pressed on the upper ungummed side of the tape for ad-' .vancing the tape through the chute, said chute also having a floor plate with an apertured portion therein, and a flooring for engaging the gummed side of the tape as it passes through the chute, said last named flooring comprising a plurality of parallel rows of circular contacting members extending through said apertured portion and projecting above said floor plate to substantially prevent the gummed side of the tape from contacting said floor plate, said circular contacting members being rotatably supported by said tape chute, each of said members having a neck integral therewith, said circular members being disposed in a manner to permit the contacting portion of said members to project into the space area provided by the smaller diameter of said necks with respect to the diameter of said contacting portion of said members whereby said tape may be moved over said flooring, preparatory to being moistened by the moistening means aforesaid, without sticking to said floor plate.

16. In a device of the class described, a housing therefor containing means to moisted gummed tape, a tape roll container in said housing, the gummed tape from said tape roll being fed through a tape chute having a top opening to enable. the fingers of the user to be pressed on the upper ungummedside of the tape for advancing the tape through the chute, said chute also having a floor plate with an apertured portion therein, and a flooring for engaging the gummed side of the tape as it passes through the chute, said last named flooring comprising a plurality of parallel rows of circular contacting members extending through said apertured portion and projecting above said floor plate tosubstantially prevent the gummed side of the tape from contacting said floor plate, said members being rotatably supported by said tape chute, each of said members having a neck integral therewith,

said circular members being disposed in a manner to permit the contacting portion of said members to project into thespace area provided by the smaller diameter of said necks with respect to the diameter of said contacting portion of said members whereby said tape may be moved over said flooring of contacting members, preparatory EUGENE KING KRAKAUR. 

